Bitter Melon
Momordica charantia

The bitter melon, or bitter gourd, is a creeping vine native to tropical and sub-tropical habitats and is cultivated all over India for its fruiting vegetables.

The vegetable cultivated is characteristically bitter and takes on the appearance of a squash or courgette with a curiously speckled and knobbly skin. It is used in almost all Asian cooking traditions and is traditionally used as a pickling fruit.